The Blackout

The Blackout
Some of you may know while others may have no idea, but Monday night there was a blackout on Virginia Tech’s campus. Most students were not affected other than the internet or cable TV going down for a little bit, but some were affected greatly by this nuisance. The blackout hit around ten thirty p. m. and lasted into Tuesday morning until around one a. m. To some students this was a great burden because it hindered their ability to study for the exam they had the next day, but for others the blackout started a night of fun and festivities.
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10:30 p. m. ~ Blackout
I was sitting in my room watching my favorite show Scrubs on my lap top when all of a sudden everything in the room went black; the only visible objects in the room were two confused faces illuminated by the soft glow of the two laptops. Hoping it was just a temporary inconvenience we waiting for a couple minutes to see if the electricity would come back, nothing happened. I decided to attempt to make my way through the darkness to open the door to see if my room was the only unfortunate one. We were not alone as the whole hallway was pitch black and part of the quad. A couple minutes later the hallways emergency lights came on and everyone began to wander out of their rooms, wandering what had happened.
11:00 p. m. ~ Going Out
With nothing else to do my friends and I decide to take a trip to Deets to grab some drinks and pass the time, when we finished our drinks we headed back to the quad to see if there was any change. As we came down the stairs in front of D2 we still saw darkness. Amongst the darkness we also saw a blue flicker of light flying through the air. NIGHT ULITMATE FRISBEE!!! We knew what was going on as soon as we saw the blue flying disk. All six of us darted as fast as we could to join the game.
11:30 p. m. ~ Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball
The game was riveting. The intenseness filled the air as the teams struggled for each point. In the end my team won five to three. After all of the hype from Ultimate Frisbee had died down, volleyball was the next game on the agenda. The first ball was hit. Bam!! Just after a short flight the ball smacks the kid next to me. Complete silence. The silence was soon after interrupted with a roar of laughter from the surrounding area. After about thirty minutes of failed attempts we decided to give it up.
12:30 a. m. ~ Cookout
After our activities for the night we realized all the food in our refrigerators was going be bad in the morning if the power company was still unable to fix the problem, so we had a cookout. We had hamburgers, hot dogs and chips. The RA’s felt so bad for practically stranding us outside; they brought everyone out half melted popsicles and mini bottles of warm water. Very nice of them I though. Not only was food brought out, but many of the residents in OSHAG brought out their guitars and an IHome was brought out to keep us entertained.
1:15 a. m. ~ Lights are back on
Like a flip of a switch our lights suddenly brightened our quad and everyone’s already smiling faces. Is it finally time to get to bed some asked? Maybe for some, but not all. Some went to bed as soon as possible, others continued to study for the dreaded chemistry exam they had later that day, others destined themselves to start a bonfire in the grill. I was not ready to throw the towel in on the night that I felt had just begun. We started the fire by gathering small twigs and dry leaves from the ground as kindling. Next we decided we needed the fire bigger, we went for the bottom branches on the dead tree outside of OSHAG. After we had burned all of them up we decided to go on a climb for some more and bigger branches. When we tossed the branches on the grill the flames began to rise to a couple feet. Soon after the blaze started rose we saw a figure making its way toward us. Seeing that it was our RA we jokingly asked if he had any marshmallows. He did not see as much humor in it as we did and informed us that we could get in trouble if anyone other than him had seen us. Soon after we put out the fire and went inside.
2:00 a. m. ~ Time to go inside
We finally went inside after the night of festivities and started to wind down. After a little bit of homework I finally went to bed only to wake up at noon the next day.
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This just goes to show that if you try a little to have fun in a bad situation something good can come out of it. We could have sat in our room and moped, but we decided to go out and make a very memorable night.

All - Nighters
So as I sit at my desk searching for great ideas to write about . . . I can’t think of anything! Nothing what so ever will come to me. After fifteen minutes of drawing blanks I realize I also have an exam tomorrow morning and a quiz tomorrow evening. I think to myself, “Man, I’m going to have to make tonight an all nighter” Ding ding ding! A little light came on in my brain. I will write a blog about doing all nighters!!! Should be easy right? Well come to find out it is not the easiest thing ever. It is actually kind of hard. I mean what all is there to talk about the dreaded all nighter ? Yes, its possibly the worst college experience ever just on the fact that there is lack of sleep and rather than sleeping, you get the privilege of staying up and either doing homework or studying. What a night huh?
What are the essentials for a perfect all nighter? First and foremost is a case of your favorite energy drinks whether its monster, red bull, or no fear. Second is a very comfortable seat , but make sure its not too comfortable, you can’t fall asleep. The last and I guess most important item is of course the assignment that is to be worked on.
You finally sit down to fully start on your task ahead and you get a good hour or two in until the already long day starts to take its toll on your body. Your motions start to become an even greater task that is rewarded with less coordination, speed and accuracy. Your eyes become fifty pound sand bags slowly falling toward the ground. Staying awake become almost impossible until the inevitable happens… Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z Z z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Oh shit! ! As you look the alarm clock reads 9:47. You realize that not only did you miss the deadline for the assignment and you didn’t even finish the assignment, but you have also missed your 8 a.m. and the first half of your 9 a.m. The only thing to do next is go back to bed.

Virginia Tech Football Home Opener

Virginia Tech Football Home Opener 2009
Virginia Tech vs. Marshall University. The game that had been anticipated for ten months and twelve days had finally come for the Hokie Nation. The first game of the two thousand and nine season in Lane Stadium had finally arrived and Hokie Nation came out to support in full force. Every parking lot was over flowing with tailgaters, grills, and corn hole. Each and every person in the parking lots was overfilled with the joy of stepping into Lane Stadium and cheering on the Hokies.
Coming into this game the Hokies had zero wins and one loss after losing in a close game against Alabama University last Saturday in Atlanta Georgia. The devastating loss set the Hokies back from being the number seven best team in the nation to fourteenth best in the nation. This minor setback could not keep the team from aiming to slaughter “The Herd” that was stampeding directly at them. The Fighting Gobblers, as Virginia Tech was formerly known as, had a game plan to jump on the herd quick and keep fighting until the final whistle blew.
It had been said that “Blacksburg is a drinking town with a football problem”, nevertheless, football is a huge part of what makes Virginia Tech what is it. The roots of traditions at Virginia Tech are very deep and its football fans continue many traditions.
Lets ! ! Go ! ! . . . . . . . Hok ! ! ies ! ! The pre game chant of all Hokies. As the cheerleaders hold up the signs, the west and north stands scream in one synchronized sound Lets ! Go ! When their turn is done the east and south end zones chime in with a tremendous Hok ! ies ! and only is the chant stopped when the sounds of Metallica’s “ Enter Sandman “ fills the speakers and ears of the greatest stadium in the nation and its fans.
As the first sounds of Enter Sandman’s intro begins, all of Lane Stadium starts to shake as well not just because of the music or roar of the crowd, but of the sixty six thousand students , alumni , children , and fans jumping up and down to create a proper welcome for the football team. For the finally of the team coming out, Skipper, Virginia techs cannon is released and creates a boom that can be heard for miles. As the football team enters, each and every player touches the Hokie Stone that is secured above the end of the claustrophobic tunnel. This entrance has been rated among the best in college football.
During the game there are also many rituals. To begin, every third down while the Hokies are on defense all of the fans shake their keys to denote that it is a key play. While on offense, every time there is a touchdown the “ Hokie Bird “ bench presses the score in the end zone. While the Hokie Bird bench presses, guys in the stands hoist girls up and throw them in the air for the number of points that has been scored.
Maybe the most notable tradition is after the third quarter when the Marching Virginians play and dance to the Hokie Pokie. Many times the other team’s band joins Virginia Tech’s as well as the fans. This is a dance that many kids learn at a very young age and represents the Hokie Nation as fun and respectable.
Virginia Tech also pushes respect very hard. To help this cause they have started a campaign called “Hokies Respect”. This organization is to teach all Hokies to respect the moment, the opponent, themselves, and the competition. Above all, respect themselves.
When a freshman was asked to describe her first Virginia Tech game day experience she said, “My first experience at a Virginia Tech game was incredible. I had never been to a college football game before and having Tech as my first experience was beyond anything I'd ever imagined. Walking around on campus and passing by Lane Stadium has become a part of my everyday routine. I never really thought about how big it was until I walked into the stadium. People were coming from every direction, hundreds and thousands of people. The place was packed full and louder than anything I've ever experienced. Watching the Cadets of new and old march onto the field was breathtaking. I thought it was amazing how they honor the Corp of Cadets like that. Plus seeing the bomber fly by was an extra bonus. The banter between the sides of the stadium really amazed me. Everyone knew what to do and what to scream; their synchronism was perfection. The opening notes of Enter Sandman pulsed through the crowd and I was hooked. The stadium was so alive and excited that I couldn't help but instantly fall in love with Virginia Tech football. It's always an added bonus when they actually win too. All in all, my first experience at a Virginia Tech football game was amazing. I can't wait to go to so
many more.”
The experience of being at a Virginia Tech football game is like no other. Even though I have been to many, each experience is like no other and the Hokie Fever will forever run through my veins as will it run through many.

Drinking Age

Today I will tackle the semi- controversial topic of reducing the drinking age from what it is now, twenty one, to what many think it should be, eighteen. Eighteen I think is a very reasonable legal drinking age. Now you may think, oh he is just a young kid that wants to go out and get hammered all the time legally, but I’m not one of those kids. Matter of fact, I don’t really even drink and I don’t go to parties on a regular basis. I have just looked at the facts and personally I think it’s unreasonable to have such a high drinking age.
How old do you have to be to enroll in the army? How old must you be to vote? How old is required to be able to buy a lottery ticket or tobacco? You must be eighteen to do all of these things. At eighteen years of age the government considers you a full grown “ adult “ , trust you to live life on your own, be responsible and serve on a jury . Although they trust citizens to do all of these things at eighteen, the government still has no trust in them with alcohol.
Would you fight for your nation and its freedom? Would you fight for its freedom and rights if you were not even included in the rights that you are putting your life on the line for? Should a nation be able to put a citizen’s life on the line that they are not even granting the rights that they are telling them to fight for? I would have a very hard time doing that, but many soldiers are doing that every day to protect America. I don’t know about you but personally, I find it hard to think that citizens should have to fight for rights that they are not included in.
At eighteen you are given the responsibility and made to serve on a jury in a court case if you are registered to vote (all should be). Some may see this as a civic duty and others a burden forced by others. Either way you look at it you are most likely going to do it at some point. Now think about this, at eighteen years old they put the fate of another human’s life partly in the hands of yours. The government trusts that you are responsible enough to choose the fate of an alleged criminal, yet they do not trust you to be able to drink alcoholic beverages responsibly and choose not to do anything illegal or abuse your power.
How would you describe being an adult? What do most people think of when they hear the word adult? Not many people think an eighteen year old; who just graduated and is either going to college, joining the military or starting the workforce is an adult. Still most think of us as kids, confused youth, or hellions, but not the government, to them we are adults. I think if we are adults and can receive adult punishments and fight for adult rights, we should therefore be considered adults in all aspects.
Voting, this is a big deal for the government. It is not to help choose who your next city, county, state, or nation’s leader is going to be, but it is what makes a democratic system of government what it is. The government trust eighteen year olds in every presidential election to choose the next leader of the United States of America. I think this is a big responsibility and I can only imagine that the government does too.
Gambling is an issue with in many Americans lives. It can ruin a life or make a life, although it ruins more than it helps. Gambling is an addiction among people everywhere. The addiction is easy to catch and hard to cure. Although the government knows this risk the government still trusts that eighteen year olds are responsible enough to not get addicted and ruin their life.
Even more addicting than gambling is tobacco. Tobacco poses great health risk. From smokeless tobacco which creates risk from gum decay to cancer or smoking tobacco, which causes diseases from black lung to throat or lung cancer. Tobacco is a very dangerous herb that the government trusts all adults to either use responsibly or to be even more smart and not use it at all.
At eighteen years of age the government also says your parents are not responsible for you whatsoever and you are responsible for your actions. The government is giving your guardians permission to kick you out the day you turn eighteen and making you live completely on your own but not letting you make all the decisions that you want to make.
I do not know about you all but I think the drinking age is too high and very unfair. The government calls you an adult the day you turn eighteen. When you make this big step in life the government gives you many responsibilities, almost all of which benefit the government in every extent. The government feels that it is necessary for you to register for the draft and possibly be forced to fight, vote and serve on a jury. They also believe you are responsible enough to choose whether you want to smoke or use harmful plants if you choose to, yet they still think you are too irresponsible to use alcohol and neglect to even give you a chance to try and prove yourself.
Why shouldn’t you be able to drink when you have so many other responsibilities? Should the government be able to force so many responsibilities on you yet reserve the highly anticipated one for later?